GAA20CA032

Factual narrative

The sport pilot reported that during takeoff with a quartering tailwind of 10 knots, gusting up to 20 knots, as soon as the wheels left the pavement, the tail was pushed to the left. He straightened the tail and maintained wings level; however, the airplane was drifting to the left. The pilot reported that due to the tailwind and high altitude, he was getting very little lift. The airplane subsequently contacted sandy terrain on the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, during takeoff with a quartering tailwind of 10 knots, gusting to 20 knots, and as soon as the wheels lifted off, the airplane's tail was pushed to the left. He straightened the tail and maintained wings-level flight; however, the airplane continued drifting left. The pilot reported that, due to the tailwind and high altitude, the airplane was getting very little lift. The airplane subsequently impacted a sandy berm off the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.        Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Lateral/bank control-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation - C
• C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Tailwind-Effect on operation - C
• C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-(general)-Effect on operation - C